Character.org Designates 68 Schools 4 Districts as 2016 National Schools of Character Program developed in 1998 has positively impacted the lives of more than 825,000 students Washington, D.C. (May 10, 2016) Character.org, a non-profit organization that supports the advancement of character development in schools, communities and workplaces across the U.S. and globally, today designated 68 schools and four districts from 15 states as National Schools and Districts of Character for 2016. Since the inception of Character.org s Schools of Character program s in 1998 more than 263 schools and 14 districts have been designated as National Schools or Districts of Character, impacting more than 600,000 students lives. (A complete list of the 2016 National Schools and Districts of Character is outlined at bottom of this release). In addition, this year, two international schools have applied and will be evaluated for international recognition as a part of a pilot international program once the National Schools of Character have been announced. Each year, Character.org (formerly The Character Education Partnership) and its state affiliates select schools and districts that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development programs that show positive impact on academic achievement, student behavior and school climate. Schools and districts selected in January as State Schools of Character along with those schools who reapplied in their 3-year designation of State School of Character were forwarded to Character.org for consideration for national recognition as National Schools of Character. Through an in-depth and rigorous evaluation process, these schools were found to be exemplary models of character development. Of the schools named today, one district and 14 schools are former National Schools of Character reapplying for the national designation. Criteria for selection are based on Character.org s 11 Principles of Effective Character Education, a guide to providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership and engaging families and communities as partners in the character-building effort. "We are extremely proud of this year s designated schools and districts for their dedication to character development which has proven to increase the well-being of so many students lives across the United States and beyond," said Becky Sipos, Character.org s President & CEO. "These character initiatives create conditions for learning where students are thriving and growing into ethical members of our society. They are developing lifelong skillsets they will leverage well into their adult lives. Character.org will honor the designated schools and districts at its 23rd National Forum on Character Education to be held the weekend of October 14-15, 2016, in Washington, DC. Visit www.character.org to learn more about the National Forum, the Schools of Character program (State & National), and the 2016 national honorees. About Character.org: Founded in 1993, Character.org, is a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. It works with schools and districts to educate, inspire and empower young people to be ethical and engaged citizens. It is dedicated to developing young people to be both smart and good through the advancement of quality character development in all schools. Results typically include improved academic
achievement, a decline in behavioral problems and an increase in an overall positive school climate. Visit www.character.org to learn more about the Schools of Character program and the National Forum. About Character Education: Character education is an educational movement that supports the social, emotional and ethical development of students. It is the proactive effort by schools, districts, communities and states to help students develop important core ethical (recognizing what s right) and performance (doing what s right) values such as caring, honesty, diligence, fairness, fortitude, responsibility, grit, creativity, critical thinking and respect for self and others. 2016 National Schools of Character CALIFORNIA Brentwood Lower School Los Angeles, California Private Grades K 6 FLORIDA Imagine Schools at South Lake Clermont, Florida Charter Grades K 8 Imagine Schools ILLINOIS Abraham Lincoln Elementary Belleville, Illinois Public Grades K 6 Belleville District 118 Embers Elementary School Niles, Illinois Private Grades PK 5 KANSAS Kiowa County Elementary and Junior High School Greensburg, Kansas Public Grades PK 8 Kiowa County Schools Lincoln Elementary School Clay Center, Kansas Public Grades PK 3 Unified School District 379 Clay County Valley Center Intermediate School Valley Center, Kansas Public Grades 5 6 Valley Center Unified School District MARYLAND Norwood STEM Program Dundalk, Maryland Public Grades PK 3 Baltimore County Public Schools Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Bethesda, Maryland Montgomery County Public Schools MASSACHUSETTS Mill Pond School Westborough, Massachusetts Public Grades 4 6 Westborough Public Schools MISSOURI Barretts Elementary School Manchester, Missouri Parkway Schools Bayless Elementary School Bayless School District
Bayless School District Public Grades PK 12 Bowles Elementary School Fenton, Missouri Busch Middle School of Character St. Louis Public Schools Craig Elementary School Parkway Schools Don Earl Early Childhood Center Arnold, Missouri Public Grades PK Fox C-6 School District Geggie Elementary School Eureka, Missouri John Cary Early Childhood Center Public Grades PK-K Mehlville School District Lincoln Elementary School Troy, Missouri Lincoln County School District Nottingham Community Access and Job Training High School St. Louis Public Schools Eureka, Missouri Public Grades PK 12 Sappington Elementary School Lindbergh Schools Uthoff Valley Elementary School Fenton, Missouri Valley Park Middle School Valley Park, Missouri Valley Park School District Woerner Elementary School St. Louis Public Schools Woerther Elementary School Ballwin, Missouri NEW JERSEY Alan B. Shepard Elementary Old Bridge, New Jersey Carl Sandburg Middle School Old Bridge, New Jersey Carusi Middle School Cherry Hill, New Jersey Cherry Hill Public Schools Cedar Hill Elementary School Montville, New Jersey Montville Township Public Schools
Clara Barton Elementary School Cherry Hill, New Jersey Cherry Hill Public Schools Donald Stewart Center for Early Childhood School No. 51 Elizabeth, New Jersey Public Grades PK Elizabeth Public Schools E.A. Bogert School Upper Saddle River, New Jersey Public Grades 3 5 Upper Saddle River Schools Hillside Elementary School Livingston, New Jersey Livingston Public Schools Leroy Gordon Cooper Elementary School Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey McGalliard Elementary School Hamilton, New Jersey Hamilton Township School District North Plainfield High School North Plainfield, New Jersey Public Grades 9-12 North Plainfield School District Virgil Grissom Elementary School Old Bridge, New Jersey Woodmont Elementary School Pine Brook, New Jersey Montville Township Public Schools NEW YORK Jonas E. Salk Middle School Levittown, New York Levittown Public Schools St HOPE Leadership Academy New York, New York Charter Grades 5 8 Turtle Hook Middle School Uniondale, New York Uniondale Public Schools Uniondale High School Uniondale, New York Uniondale Public Schools Valley Stream Memorial Junior High School Valley Stream, New York Public Grades 7 9 Valley Stream Central High School District Valley Stream South High School Valley Stream, New York Valley Stream Central High School District Yorktown Central School District Yorktown Heights, New York Public Grades K 12 NORTH CAROLINA Brooks Global Studies Elementary School Greensboro, North Carolina Guilford County Schools Oak Hill Elementary School High Point, North Carolina Guilford County Schools
Southeast Guilford High School Greensboro, North Carolina Guilford County Schools Union Academy Monroe, North Carolina Public Charter Grades K 12 OKLAHOMA Jefferson Elementary School Pryor, Oklahoma Public Grades K 6 Pryor Public Schools Lincoln Elementary School Pryor, Oklahoma Public Grades 1 6 Pryor Public Schools Muskogee Early Childhood Center Muskogee, Oklahoma Public Grades PK Muskogee Public Schools PENNSYLVANIA Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School Morrisville, Pennsylvania Makefield Elementary School Yardley, Pennsylvania Manor Elementary School Levittown, Pennsylvania Parkside Elementary School Brookhaven, Pennsylvania Penn-Delco School District Penn Valley Elementary School Levittown, Pennsylvania Pennsbury High School Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania Walt Disney Elementary School Levittown, Pennsylvania TEXAS Public Grades PK 12 Cottonwood Creek Elementary School Denton Creek Elementary School G.W. Robinson Elementary School Seabrook, Texas Clear Creek Independent School District HL Brockett Elementary School Aubrey, Texas Public Grades K 4 Aubrey Independent School District Marshall Leadership Academy Grand Prairie, Texas Grand Prairie Independent School District
Pinkerton Elementary School VIRGINIA Hargrave Military Academy Chatham, Virginia Private Grades 7 12 WISCONSIN Brown Deer Middle High School Brown Deer, Wisconsin Public Grades 7 12 School District of Brown Deer Meyer Middle School River Falls, Wisconsin Public Grades 6-8 School District of River Falls Pleasant Prairie Elementary School Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin Kenosha Unified School District